johnson



2 sheets-sheen 1.,'

(No Model.)

H. JOHNSON.

BILL FILE.

No.l417,043. Y Patented Deo. 10, 1889K EB :la Mm APR-l--E Mm HENRYJoHNso/v @WW/ZW- Q I N. PETERS, Phum-Lilhagmphur. Waxhingtan. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet v2. H. JOHNSON.

BILL PILE.

No. 417,043. Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

Fr y a a Wb.

/ HENRY JOHNSON.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY JOHNSON, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,043, dated December10, 1889. Application filed October 17, 1889. Serial No. 327,312. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of -Washington, in the District of Colu mbia, have invented anew and useful Improvement in VBill-Files, of which the following is aspecilication.

This invention relates to that class of billles in which the bills orother papers are impaled upon and suspended in bundles by suitablehooks.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide for employingany required number of such hooks in individual files so supported by acabinet or index-frame common to all as to facilitate keeping the papersin chronological or alphabetical order or classified according tosubject-matter, and thus facilitate finding any desired paper.

Another object of the invention is to adapt detachable individual filesto coaet with an index-frame of simple construction, so that the hooksshall project uniformly at right angles to the front of the frame whenthe les are hung up in place.

Another objectis to provide for using an attached unfiling-wire forexposing individual papers with superior facility.

Another object is to facilitate tying up the papers in their originalorder when they are removed from the hooks; and a last object is toprovide for packing the individual files dat, so as to economize spacein storing and shipping them.

This invention consists in certain novel combinations of parts foreffecting the above obj ects, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

Figure l of the drawings represents a face view of a horizontalchronologically -indexed bill-file embodying all the several features ofthis invention. Fig. 2 is a like View of a classified horizontal ileillustrating certain modifications. Figf is a like view of a horizontalalphabetically-indexed le illustrating additional modiiications. Fig. 4is a like view of a vertical file illustrating additional modifications.Fig. 5 represents a section on the line 5 5, Fig. l, enlarged therefromfour diameters, and illustrating by full and dotted lines the operationof the individual file in the plane of section. Fig. 6 is a face view ofthis individual iile on the same scale as Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a smallscale side vieW of the impaling-hook det-ached, illustrating thechronological subdivision of bundles of papers and the provision fortying up the papers, and Fig. 8 is a face view of the individual file as'fiattened for storage or shipment.

Like letters of reference indicate corr(- sponding parts in the severalfigures.

My cabinets or index-frames I I2 I3 I4 have in common one or more pairsof horizontal bars a b, rigidly united by vertical cross-bars c. Theupper bars a are provided with suspending devices, which may be L-shaped hooks d, Figs. l, 2, Ll, and 5, 0r headed nails or the like, asshown at cl2, Fig.. 3. In either case they are arranged in series, andindex-marks or labels c are affixed to said bars a or to adjoining partsof the frame adjacent to the respective suspending devices.' Otherportions of the frames may be utilized for labels e2, Fig. l, bearingdirections, advertisements, or the like.

Each individual file F, or F2, or F3, or F4 has an eye f at the upperend of its body, to engage with one of the suspending devices d or d2,and may have a mark c corresponding with the index-niark ev appropriateto that particular hook or nail, and lateral projections g, horizontallyopposite each other at the lower end of the body of the file, coact Withthe frame-bar b, against which the individual file hangs. Theimpaling-hook h of the file is thus caused to project at right angles tothe face of the frame, being set in a plane at right angles to the backof the file. The bars b of the several index-frames are fixedly locatedwith reference to the above function. The bodies of the individual filesare conveniently adapted therefor by being made of anchor shape, asshown at F and F2, or in the shape of T-squares, as shown at F3 and F4.Other analogous shapes may be adopted.

The index-frames may be extended horizontally or vertically to anyrequired length, as illustrated by Figs. l to 4E, and may be xedlyattached to an oflice-Wall, the inner side of a closet-door, oralikesupport, as by screws z', Figs. 1 and 5, or be detaehably hung on nailsj, or the like, with or without eye-screws k or holes Zto engagetherewith, as illustrated by Figs. 2 to 4.

In the specific construction of individual tiles illustrated by Fig. land by Figs. 5 to 8 each file-body is provided with a verticalscrew-socket m, Figs. 5 to 8, opening upward, and a recurved elasticuntlling-wire n has a screw-threaded heel end fitted to the sockets m,so that it may be quickly attached to any tile of the series when it isneeded, and when -it is not in use may be swung back out of the way, asshown in Figs. l and 6. The free end of the unfiling-wire is constructedwith a longitudinal socket, which admits the sharp end of theimpaling-hook of the tile, to which it is attached, as shown in dottedlines at n in Fig. 5, so that the papers may be turned back from thehook h onto the wire n in removing or exposing to view an individualpaper. ln connection with such single uniiling-wire to a series of [ilesa detent-hook o preferably forms part of each individual iile i forordinary use as the keeper of the free end of the impaling-hook, asshown in Figs. l and 6 and in full lines in Fig. 5.

To provide for transferring the bundles of papers to strings S, Fig. 7,the impaling-hook h is made detachable by being screwed into a verticalscrew-socket m2, opening downward at the lower end of the file-body, andis provided at the extremity of its screw-threaded end with an eye p,Figs. 5 and '7, which is readily threaded with the string after the hookis detached, as illustrated by Fig. 7. The papers may then be slippedfrom the hook onto the string without changing their order and securedagainst disarrangement by tying the string. The hook is then returned tothe file to which it belongs. Fig. 7 further illustrates subdividin gthe papers P on a given impaling-hook by means of cards or tags qrepresenting successive dates. For druggists, coaldealers, and othershandling a large number of papers of uniform size this provision is ofgreat practical importance, as it provides for turning to papers of anygiven date on an impaling-hook which answers for one or more months orfor all current bills or the like of a given initial or class. Theimproved billle may be adapted in like manner for the peculiar demandsoi*` any other business.

By providing a screw-socket m3 perpendicular to the back of thefile-body for the detenthook o, when the latter is employed, andunscrewing the deten t-hook and partly unserewing the untiling-wire nand the impaling-hook h, the file may be liattened, as shown in Fig. 8,and packed in this shape 'for storage or shipment without the large lossof space which has heretofore militate'd against commercially handlingbill or paper iiles oi said impaling-hook type. The modified individualfiles F2 and F3, Figs. 2 and 3, are made without the said detent-hook oand its socket m3, the unfiling-wire n being employed on each le as acombined detent and uniiling device, and the eye f of said iile F3 ismade'y in the form of a key-hole slot suited to the suspending devicesd2. Otherwise they are constructed as above described.

The modified individual files represented at F4, Fig. 1l, are madewithout said unlingwire n, and the index-frame I4, used in connectiontherewith, is provided with means represented by vertical holes ato,Fig.4, whereby a detached un filing-wire n2 is conveniently held by theframe so as to be used in connection with either tile for unilingpurposes.

Having thus described the said improvement and modification thereof, lclaim as my invention and desire t-o patent under this specicationl. Anindex-frame provided with a series of suspending devices and index marksor labels adjacent to the respective suspending -devices, in combinationwith a series of individual liles having impaling-hooks to hold thepapers, eyes to engage with said suspending devices, and marks or labelscorresponding with those on the index-frame, substantially ashcreinbe'fore specified.

2. An index-frame having a pair of horizontal bars, the upper providedwith suspending devices, in combination with a series of individualtiles, each having an impaling-hook to hold the papers, and a bodyhaving an eye at its upper end to engage with one ot' said suspendingdevices, and lateral projections at its lower end to engage with thelower bar of said pair, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

3. An index-frame provided with a series of suspending devices and indexmarks or labelsadjacentto them, respectively, in combination with a likeseries of individual files, each having an impaling-hook to hold thepapers, and a body having an eye at its upper end to engage with one ofsaid suspending devices, and a vertical screw-socket opening upward, andan elastic rebent uniiling-wire, having a screw-threaded end adapted toscrew into such socket ot' any [ile of the series, and a hollow end toreceive the sharp end of the impaling-hook of the ile to which it isattached, substantially as hereinbetore specified.

4. In a bill-file, the combination of an impaling-hook having anupwardly-projecting sharp end, a body having' a vert-ical screwsock etopening upward, and an elastic rebent unIiling-wire having ascrew-threaded end fitted to said socket, and a hollow end to receivesaid sharp end of the impaling-hook, substantially as hereinbeforespecified.

5. In an individual lile, a detachable impaling-hook having one endsharpened andits other end screw-threaded and provided with a terminaleye, in combination with a body having a downwardly-openingverticalsocket at its lower end to receive said eye end of the hook,substantially as hereinbefore specified.

6. An individual file having its body constructed with an eye at itsupper end, by which to suspend the file, and with vertical IOO Ixo

screw-sockets opening downward and upward, respectively', and having 2mimpzdngdlook and an uniling-Wre constructed with screw threaded heelends fitted to the respective sockets, substantially as hereinbeforespeci* fied.

7. The combination, in an individual file, of aJ body eonsruotedwith aueye it its upper end by which to. suspend the file, :md

1o with se1ew-soekots, two of which are vertical and open downward andupward, respectively, and the third is at right angles to Adie barok ofthe file, an mpaling-hook, and an unfilingwire screwed into saidVertical sockets, and a detent-hook screwed nfo said third socket, 15

Substantially as hereinbefore speeied.

HENRY JOHNSON. Titnessesz J As. L. EWIN, ALLAN J. IAIOUGHTON.

